Planning and Development Committee

Board Action Item III-A

February 15, 2007

General Order and

Track Right Authorization System (GOTRS)

Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority Board Action/Information Summary

Action Information

MEAD Number: 99736

Resolution: Yes No

PURPOSE To authorize a modification to the existing ROCS Upgrade Contract with ARINC to enhance the Track Access Management functionality that is part of the new Rail Operation Computer System (ROCS). This will be accomplished by completing a detail design specification, software development, and implementation of this enhanced General Orders and Track Rights Authorization System (GOTRS). DESCRIPTION The current GOTRS process consists of mainframe computer components and a multitude of manual processes. In the last five years, requests to access the rail system right of way have increased by 300%. Right-of-way access is required to perform necessary work needed to either improve or sustain customer service related efforts such as the Metro Matters Program and Routine Maintenance activities. Based on the feasibility analysis completed in November 2006, the current GOTRS system and processes are no longer able to schedule and manage WMATA`s track rights. Due to the limitation of the current GOTRS system, the multitude of manual processes that are being managed should be incorporated into a new system to improve the efficiency of the process. The feasibility analysis identified that the design for an enhanced system should incorporate automated processes with override capability available to authorized personnel at all times, providing real time feed back to the requestor, conflict resolution, a graphic interface for entry and review of the rail lines, and interfaces to existing systems that provide project and maintenance scheduling information.

This effort will be accomplished by modifying Contract with ARINC. ARINC is currently upgrading WMATA ROCS. The modification will focus on implementing the key aspects of the system functionality identified in the analysis in order to

offer the most immediate benefit. These functions include, graphic user interface for manual requests and visual feedback, GOTRS business rules, automated notification of conflicts and changes to request, automate the Red Tag request process and automatically producing switching orders, provide breaker status and supervisory outages to Rail Central Control as well as management of piggyback requests. FUNDING IMPACT The FY07 Budget contains $600,000 to perform the design, programmatic approval was granted on December 21, 2006 (Mead 99696) to modify a contract for this work. The development and implementation of this program is contained in the OIT Strategic and Business Plan in FY08 in the amount of $2,650,000. RECOMMENDATION To authorize a modification to the existing ROCS Upgrade contract to enhance the Track Access Management functionality that is part of the new Rail Operation Computer System (ROCS). This will be accomplished by completing a detailed design specification, software development, and implementation of this enhanced General Orders and Track Rights Authorization System (GOTRS).

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General Order and Track Right General Order and Track Right Authorization System (GOTRS)Authorization System (GOTRS)

Presented to the Board of Directors:

Planning and Development Committee

February 15, 2007

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Enhance the Track Rights Management functionality of the new Rail Operation Control System (ROCS) to replace the current General Order and Track Right Authorization System (GOTRS) by modifying the existing ROCS Upgrade contract.

Purpose

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Discussion

Current GOTRS process is a hybrid of mainframe computer and manual processes to manage requests for access to the WMATA right of way.

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Increased maintenance and replacement on the aging infrastructure has resulted in over 900 weekly requests by contractors and internal WMATA forces to perform work.

Discussion

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Due to the high volume of requests under the current manual processes, resolving work conflicts, managing manpower and determining work prioritization is inefficient.

Discussion

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Discussion

Rail Operations has to hand draw approved work requests to visually determine work locations by line.

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Discussion

By modifying the existing ROCS Upgrade contract to complete a detailed design specification task and by making enhancements tothe GOTRS functionality in the new ROCS system, WMATA will improve efficiency of the GOTRS system.

• Automated notification•Conflicts•Changes to request

• Automated identification of work locations

• Automatic statuses to Central Control computer system

• Real-time reporting• Visual feedback

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Benefits

• More efficient track access management which will allow required track work to be completed for maintenance and project work.

• Reduction in the number of claims related to track access conflicts.

• Productivity improvement in Rail Operations by reducing the manual processes required to manage the GOTRS process.

• Ability to produce reporting metrics to monitor and optimize the GOTRS process.

• Requestors receive instant feedback regarding conflicts, changes, and/or acceptance of request.

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• Budgeted in the overall OIT Program

• Funding Request:– Detailed Design Specification Task $ 600,000

FY07 (Approved by Board 12-21-06)– Development & Implementation $ 2,650,000

FY08 $ 3,250,000

Funding Impact

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Recommendation

Approval to execute and fund a modification to the ROCS Upgrade Project contract to complete a detailed design specification task and software development for the new ROCS system to enhance the Track Rights Management functionality.